Species at Woburn Abbey Deer Park History of The Deer Park Our Deer Species Within Woburn Abbey Deer Park, you have a chance to see the Red Deer and Fallow Deer, which are native to Britain, as well as seven other species which originally came from Asia. These include the Milu, or Pére David's Deer, which the 11th Duke helped to save from extinction. Visitors should keep an eye out for Sika, Axis and Barasingha, and the rare and shy Rusa Deer. You may also see small Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer roaming individually. Red Deer Diet: Grasses, herbs, leaves, buds, shoots and bark Height: 3'6" - 3'9" (1.1 - 1.2m) Weight: Up to 551lbs (250kg) Number of young: 1 calf Lifespan in the wild: Up to 15 years The Red Deer is the largest land mammal in Britain. It is also the only species of deer found in Africa. The Woburn stags are world-famous for their magnificent antlers. They lose their antlers every year and regrow new ones during the summer months.

They have a reddish-brown coat in the summer and a brown-grey coat in the winter. Milu (also known as Pére David's Deer) Diet: Grasses and water plants Height: 3'9" (1.2m) Weight: 330 - 551lbs (150 - 250kg) Number of young: 1 calf Lifespan in the wild: Up to 23 years Its Chinese name 'Milu' means 'four unlikes' because it was thought that it had the hooves of a cow, the head of a horse, the antlers of a deer and the body of a donkey. Look out for the calves in summer - you may see them in a group called a 'creche' watched over by several aunts. Stags compete to win command of their herd during the rut in June. Sussex Deer Control - Deer Species in the Uk Deer Species in the Uk THE SIX DEER SPECIES FOUND IN tHE UK ROE DEER Established in the uk before the last Ice Age, the Roe Deer is the smallest native deer species.

By 1800 excessive hunting and the loss of habitat caused the roe deer to become extinct, In Victorian times the species was re-introduced,The Planting of woodland and forestry in the 20th century has led to the roe deer becoming widespread today. The Buck can grow to a height of 75cm and the Doe 70cm Shooting Season in England and Wales Bucks April 1st to October 31st Does November 1st to March 31st RED DEER The red deer migrated into Britain from Europe 11,000 years ago and is Britains largest mammal. Loss of forestry caused the decline of red deer population. Small groups inhabited the Scottish Highlands, and south-west England. The Normans kept red deer in parks and forests for royal hunting, During Mediaeval times their numbers declined in England. The Victorians re-introduced the species and as forest and woodland cover increased in the early 20th century so did the red deer population which is now widely distributed in Britain.

The Stag can grow to a height of 125cm or more and the hind 110cm Shooting season in England and wales Stags August 1st to April 30th Hinds november 1st to March 31st SIKA DEER The Sika Deer was introduced into the uk from Japan in the 19th century and now due to escaped animals a wild population has become established. it is thought that the first introductions were from Japan, Manchuria and Formosa The Sika has also inter-bred with the native Red deer. A large population of Sika can be found in dorset and a few can be seen in Kent and Sussex. The stags grow to a height of 95cm and the hinds 85cm Shooting Season England and wales Stags August 1st to april 30th Hinds November 1st to March 31st CHINESE WATER DEER The Chinese Water Deer was introduced to the UK by the Duke of Bedford to inhance the grounds of Woburn Abbey at the start of the 20th century.

This Deer is a native to China and North Korea, The storm of 1987 allowed the Chinese Water Deer to escape and spread throughout Bedfordshire and East Anglia and now inhabits both wetland and drier parkland and wooded areas. The males grow to a height of 50cm and the femals 48cm The Shooting Season for Bucks and does is from November 1st to March the 31st. MUNTJAC DEER Muntjac, The Barking Deer with its dog like bark, Originally from Asia was brought to Woburn Abbey in around 1900 it was an Indian sub-species, which was first introduced. Later between 1940 an 1950 the Reeves’ Muntjac was introduced, some of these were intentionally released and this population spread throughout Bedfordshire, Norfolk and suffolk; and a few are to be found in kent and Sussex. the Male grows to a height of 49cm and the females 47cm There Is no closed season for this species FALLOW DEER Fallow deer were introduced by the Normans in the 11th century, some would suggest that the Romans attempted to introduce it here much earlier.

Fallow deer prized as an ornamental species were protected in Hunting "Forests" for royal sport. During Mediaeval times many deer parks were established and these and more recent park escapees have given rise to the wild populations in Britain today. The Bucks grow to 85cm and the Does 65cm. Shooting season in England and Wales Bucks August 1st to April 30th Does November 1st to March 31st Deer Species - DEVON DEER MANAGEMENT services EFFECTIVE DEER CONTROL Deer Species Deer species found in Britain At a glance Biggest of the deer species. Highly branched antlers, increase with age. Spotted coat White or pale coloured patch on rump. Smallest of deer species Two backward pointing antlers on males Roe Deer Roe deer became extinct in most of England during the 18th century, but they were reintroduced in the 19th century. Before 1960 they were treated as vermin due to the damage they cause to the forestry industry. Life span Body length: 95-135cm, Height (at shoulder): 63-67cm, Weight: 18-29kg.

Physical Description These small deer have a white to buff patch on their rump, a black nose and 'moustache', and a white chin. Their coat varies from sandy to reddish-brown in the summer, to grey/ brown or even black in winter. They moult in the spring, giving the coat a moth-eaten appearance. The antlers, which have no more than three points and are less than 25cm in length, grow in winter, and are shed in the autumn. Distribution Roe deer are found throughout Europe, but they are absent from Ireland, much of Portugal, Greece, and large parts of England and Wales. They also inhabit Asia. They live in woodland, preferably with open patches of ground, and with access to the edges of fields. Diet Roe deer feed on brambles, roses, herbs, grasses, and the leaves of young broad-leaved trees and bushes - but they are very particular - choosing only the most nutritious items. Behaviour Both male and female roe deer are solitary and are highly territorial, with clearly defined boundaries. They scent mark, and these scents give information about the sex, age, and dominance of the individual.

Roe deer have a very good sense of smell and hearing, and their vision is acutely aware of moving objects. When alarmed, roe deer bark. Reproduction Roe deer have a gestation period of up to about 294 days, including a period of delayed implantation (where the fertilised egg does not attach itself to the wall of the uterus) of up to 150 days. They mate in July/August, the fawn is born in the spring, and is brown in colour with rows of white spots on its back and flanks. The fawns are weaned after 6-10 weeks -------------------------- Fallow deer Dama dama Fallow deer were introduced to British parks and forests by the Normans in the eleventh century and have since become the most widespread species of deer in Britain. Life span Body length: 130-160cm, Shoulder height: 85-100cm, Weight: Males: 60-85kg, Females: 30-50kg. Physical Description Fallow deer have many colour varieties, but they are typically fawn-coloured in the summer and reddish-brown in the winter.

They have yellow-white undersides, white spots and a black line that runs along the back to the tip of the tail. The spots become less conspicuous or disappear in winter. Males have palmate (flattened) antlers. Distribution Fallow deer are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe and from Turkey to Iran, but they have been introduced to 38 countries. Habitat Fallow deer typically occupy deciduous woodland with open patches. Diet They are grazers, feeding on grasses, herbs, berries, acorns and bark. Behaviour Fallow deer commonly gather in herds of 4-5, but in good feeding areas, groupings of 70-100 may gather. When competing for access to females, males display by groaning, thrashing their antlers and by walking alongside their opponent. Fighting occurs if both stags are evening matched, and involves wrestling and clashing of antlers. Reproduction Does give birth to a single fawn after a gestation period of 31-32 weeks. She usually leaves the herd to look for a hiding place to give birth. After the fawn is born, it remains in its hiding place (in bushes or dense vegetation).

The doe returns every four hours to feed it until it is about four months old, when it joins the herd. The fawn is weaned after 7-9 months. Body length: 90cm, Shoulder height: 45-52cm, Weight: 12-15kg. Physical Description Muntjacs are small deer, with dark red-brown fur and white patches on the chin, throat and rump. Males have small antlers (max 15cm) that point backwards, and females have tufts of hair in place of antlers. These deer also have tusks, which are actually extended upper canine teeth. The female's tusks are shorter than the male's. Males have a V-shaped marking running from their forehead to their nose. Distribution Muntjacs are native to SE China and Taiwan, but they have been introduced to parks in England and France. In England, they are restricted to the south of the country. Habitat Their preferred habitat is woodland. Diet Muntjacs are browsers, and feed on shrubs, shoots, grass and shoots. They sometimes cause damage by stripping bark from trees.

Behaviour Unlike many other species of deer, muntjacs are solitary, but small groups may sometimes gather at feeding areas. They tend to occupy territories of around 14 hectares, which they rarely leave. Muntjacs bark when disturbed and in the case of females (does), when in season. They are active both day and night, but the main feeding periods are dawn, dusk and in the middle of the day. Reproduction Muntjacs breed throughout the year. The gestation period is 210 days and the fawn is weaned after 8 weeks. (Cervus elaphus) Recognition. Our largest land-mammal. Summer coat is reddish brown to brown, winter coat is brown to grey. No spots present in adult coat. Large, highly branched antlers in the stag (male). Adult size. Stags 90-190kg, 107-137cm at shoulder. Females (hinds) 63-120kg, up to 107-122cm at shoulder. Deer on the open hill in Scotland are smaller than those in lowland English woodland. Antlers. Highly branched.

The number of branches increases with age. Up to 16 points in native animals. The angle between the brow tine and the main beam is always more than 90?. This is important in distinguishing red deer from the related sika. Life span. Exceptionally up to 18 years. Heavy infant mortality at and shortly after birth and during first winter in some Scottish hill populations. Status. Widespread and locally common. UK distribution. Native stock common in the Scottish Highlands, Dumfriesshire, Lake District, East Anglia and the south-west of England. Feral stock present in the north of England, north Midlands, East Anglia, the New Forest and Sussex. Habitat. Within its range in England and southern Scotland occurs in woodlands and forests but can adapt to open moor and hill on Scottish hills and south-west England. Food & feeding. Grazers of grasses, and dwarf shrubs e.g. heather and bilberry. Woody browse, e.g. tree shoots, is taken when other food is limiting e.g. during winter.

Muntjac deer Muntjac deer Muntjac deer Appearance Bucks (males) grow to 44 - 52cm at the shoulder and weigh 10 - 18kg. Does (females) are 43 - 52cm at the shoulder and weigh 9 - 16kg. Reeves’ muntjac are small, stocky and russet brown in colour in summer and grey/brown in winter. Bucks have short (10 cm) antlers growing from long pedicles. Antlers are usually unbranched but a very short brow tine is occasionally found in old bucks. They also have visible upper canines (tusks) suggesting that they are a primitive species. Muntjac have two pairs of large glands on the face. The upper pair are the frontal glands, whilst the lower glands, below the eyes, are called sub-orbitals. Both glands are used to mark territories and boundaries. They have a ginger forehead with pronounced black lines running up the pedicles in bucks, and a dark diamond shape on does. The haunches are higher than the withers giving a hunched appearance.

They have a fairly wide tail, which is held erect when disturbed. History, distribution & habitat Muntjac were brought from China to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in the early 20th century. They are now widespread and increasing in number and range. Deliberate releases and escapes from Woburn, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire led to the establishment of feral populations. Movement and release by humans led to their rapid spread across south and central England and Wales, however, north of the Humber distribution is patchy but reaches close to the Scottish border. Muntjac like deciduous or coniferous forests, preferably with a diverse understorey. They are also found in scrub and overgrown urban gardens. Unlike other species of deer in Britain, muntjac do not cause significant damage to agricultural or timber crops. However, high densities may prevent coppice regeneration and the loss of some plants of conservation importance, such as primulas. Muntjac trophy hunting has only recently become popular so there is little tradition of muntjac stalking on country and forest estates. The most significant direct economic impact that muntjac have on human interests is in collisions with cars. However, this has welfare as well as economic implications.

Breeding, behaviour & lifecycle In contrast to all other species of deer in Britain, muntjac do not have a defined breeding season (rut). Instead, they breed all year round and the does can conceive again within days of giving birth. Bucks may fight for access to does but remain unusually tolerant of subordinate males within their vicinity. Does are capable of breeding at seven months old. After a gestation period of seven months they give birth to a single kid and are ready to mate again within a few days. Bucks can live up to 16 years and does up to 19 years, but these are exceptional. Muntjac are generally solitary or found in pairs (doe with kid or buck with doe) although pair-bonding does not occur. Bucks defend small exclusive territories against other bucks whereas does' territories overlap with each other and with several bucks. They are known as ‘barking deer’ from the repeated loud bark given under a number of circumstances. An alarmed muntjac may scream whereas maternal does and kids squeak. Muntjac are active throughout the 24-hour period but make more use of open spaces during the hours of darkness in populations subject to frequent disturbance. Peak activity is at dawn and dusk.

Long periods are spent ‘lying up’, where the deer lies down to ruminate after feeding. Wild Deer - a guide to Britain's species Deer species in Wales Phylum: Chordata - Class: Mammalia - Order: Artiodactyla - Family: Cervidae Up to the late 1980s the only wild or feral deer in Wales were fallow with a very few red deer that had escaped from Powis Castle near Welshpool. This all changed in the 1980s when roe deer released in the Ludlow area of England came over the border into Wales and by 1989 were present in areas of mid-Powys almost as far west as Llandrindod Wells. At about the same time there were the first reports of muntjac with the odd animal turning up in the Marches. When the most recent survey of deer in Wales was carried out by the Wales Deer Initiative the remarkable findings were that all species had increased their range and that roe and muntjac in particular had spread dramatically over many areas of mid and south Wales.

There are now only two areas of Wales in which there are no wild or feral deer, the first is the far North West corner although there were wild fallow on Anglesey until very recently and roe and muntjac are pushing into this area, and the second is much of the old county of South Glamorgan although again it will not be long before muntjac appear here. Fallow Deer Fallow are not indigenous to the UK but have been around for at least 2000 years. They are the common spotted deer of deer parks all over the country. It is the most common deer in Wales numerically and has long established strongholds in the Wye Valley and Eastern Monmouthshire, the Twyi valley between Llandeilo and Carmarthen, the Elwy valley in the St. Asaph area, the forests adjacent to Margam Park near Port Talbot, and the Coed y Brenin forest of Gwynedd and Powys. It also appears in smaller numbers in most of North Wales, the lower Teifi valley and all along the English border.

Fallow stand up to 38 inches (0.9 m) at the shoulder and the males or bucks carry long antlers that are palmated at the top in mature animals. They have a number of different colorations. The most common colour is a reddish brown in summer with a number of white spots and these are denser along the line of the spine. In the winter this turns a little darker to more of a dun colour and the spots are less distinct. They have distinct caudal patch and this is white with a black edging. Other colour variations range from almost black to white with a very pale version of the normal colour called menil common in some areas. Animals of several colours can be present in one herd although there is a current trend to try and shoot out the abnormal colours as they are more visible and may attract poachers. When mildly alarmed fallow have a habit of pronking, which is a stiff-legged gait making them look as though they are on pogo sticks; this is a precursor to full flight. They rut in October and the bucks holding territories are quite vocal, especially at dawn and dusk when the they make groaning noises which is a sort of cross between a pig's grunt and a belch.

This sound carries for half a mile or more and can be quite alarming to those who do not know what it is. Although often seen grazing in herds on grassland or in crops near woodland, fallow are capricious in their habits and seldom show up in the same place on two days running. The fawns are dropped in June and can be seen with their mothers from July onwards when they rejoin the herd. Red Deer These are the largest British deer, the subject for Landseers' Monarch of the Glen, with mature stags standing almost 48 inches (1.2m) at the shoulder and a big woodland stag will weigh up to 500lbs, making it the largest land mammal in Britain. Red deer were original inhabitants of Wales, but those native populations died out long ago. Red deer were re-established in Wales by escapes from Powis Castle near Welshpool, and a small feral population still survives in the locality. Recently with the increase in deer farming in other parts of Wales there have been more escapes, and there are now probable feral populations in north Monmouthshire, on the south Lleyn peninsular and two areas of what was Dyfed.

Although most often seen on the open hill in Scotland, they are naturally animals of the forest and prefer heavily wooded environment. True to their name they are a foxy red in colour and the stags carry large multi-pointed antlers. They usually rut in late September or early October and the stags roar challenges to other stags in the area. Once established in an area they tend not to move too far other than for the rut when the stags will travel some distance to find hinds (females). For most of the year the stags live in bachelor groups and leave the hinds and calves alone. They tend to drop their calves in June; the calves carry many white spots for the first months of their lives. Roe Deer The roe is also an indigenous deer to the UK but had been absent from Wales for several centuries, was always fairly common in Scotland, but was confined to just three areas of England until the 20th century - Dorset, Sussex and the Lake District.

For reasons unknown it has enjoyed a huge population explosion during the latter half of the 20th century and is now very widespread in England and in the mid-1980s pushed across the English border into Wales in the Mortimer Forest area. According to a recent survey it now occupies much of an area from the English border west to within 15 miles of the coast in Cardigan Bay, north to the A55 and south to the Heads of the Valleys road and right up to the coast in Ceredigion. It is of similar colour to a red deer but much smaller being a bit larger than a Labrador. The bucks carry small antlers with three points on each in a mature buck. It is a pretty and elegant deer but not a herd animal like the fallow and red. Where populations are high they can be seen in small groups of up to six or seven deer in the winter but, although it can now be seen in a large area of Wales, the population is still quite sparse and single animals are the most likely sighting.

They do not require a deep forest habitat like the larger deer and are quite happy living on heather moorland, in hedgerows, small copses and even in suburban gardens as well as in forests. They can frequently be seen grazing in fields at dawn and dusk. The bucks establish territories in the Spring with the younger bucks being pushed out by the resident bucks and this accounts for much of the spread of these deer. Roe rut in July/August and the act of the bucks continually chasing the does causes circular tracks to be worn in the grass and these are often called fairy rings. They are not particularly vocal and are unlikely to betray their presence during the rut in the same way as red or fallow deer. They will however bark at suspicious noises or movement before bolting. Muntjac Deer This deer is not indigenous to the UK, it is a deer of South East Asia and India. It has its origins in some escapes of Reeves Muntjac from Woburn in Bedfordshire in the late 19th century.

For quite some time it spread very little from a 20 mile radius of Woburn but like the roe, in the latter half of the 20th century it suddenly started to expand its range dramatically and is now possibly the widespread deer in England and Wales. It first appeared in Wales in the late 1970s with the very occasional (and disbelieved) sighting in Monmouthshire and according to the survey, is now present about 15 miles either side of the entire M4 corridor in Wales with other populations in NE Wales and Snowdonia. It is a small deer standing no more than around 24 inches (0.3m) at the shoulder and has a hunch-backed, crouching stance, similar to a hare or rabbit in profile. The bucks sport very small single spike antlers from an enlarged pedicle and some consider them to be quite ugly beasts. They will live in almost any environment from broad-leaved woodlands, standing crops, railway embankments, to back gardens and are often responsible for damage to garden plants attributed to rabbits. They do not have a fixed life cycle and the does can have fawns in virtually any month of the year.

They are fairly solitary and, although some woods can hold high densities of muntjac, they are usually seen as single animals or does with fawns at foot. When alarmed they will bark loudly like a dog and then raise their large white tails and run off quickly, often barking as they go. Sika Deer These are also immigrants from Asia and are often called Japanese Deer or Japanese Sika although not all of our deer are of the Japanese sub-species. They look like a smaller version of the red deer, being about the same size as fallow. They are closely related to red deer and in fact hybridisation with reds is a big problem in Scotland. Apart from the very uncommon Chinese Water Deer, they are the least widespread of our wild deer and in England are generally confined to small areas in Dorset, the New Forest, Lancashire and the Lake District. They are not generally regarded as being present in Wales but there are recent reports of a population of sika deer in the marshes along the tidal Teifi. Text kindly contributed by Paul King. We hope that you have found this information helpful. If so we are sure you would also enjoy our books about Algarve wildlife and wildflowers. Buy them online here...

© 1995 - 2015 First Nature. | Wildlife Trusts Wales Wildlife Trusts Wales Amy Lewis About The small Muntjac Deer was first introduced from China to Woburn in Bedfordshire at the start of the 20th century. It is now a common animal across south-east England and is spreading. The male has short, unbranched antlers and a pair of long canine teeth. Muntjac live in woodland, parkland and even venture into gardens. Muntjac are also known as 'barking deer' because of their dog-like calls, most often heard in the autumn. How to identify A very small, stocky deer, about the same size as a medium-sized dog. A uniform brown with a pale underside and small, single-pointed antlers. Where to find it Common and increasing in southern England, spreading northwards. Habitats | Suffolk Wildlife Trust Amy Lewis About The small Muntjac Deer was first introduced from China to Woburn in Bedfordshire at the start of the 20th century. It is now a common animal across south-east England and is spreading. The male has short, unbranched antlers and a pair of long canine teeth.

Muntjac live in woodland, parkland and even venture into gardens. Muntjac are also known as 'barking deer' because of their dog-like calls, most often heard in the autumn. How to identify A very small, stocky deer, about the same size as a medium-sized dog. A uniform brown with a pale underside and small, single-pointed antlers. Where to find it Common and increasing in southern England, spreading northwards. Habitats Deer - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Deer Deer Deer Deer have probably never been so abundant in Britain. The disappearance of large predatos such as bear, wolf and lynx, as well as much-reduced hunting by man in recent years, has allowed deer populations to expand. Added to this, in the lowlands modern crops provide abundant food for these herbivores all year round. In some regions numbers of deer are excessive and are having a detrimental effect on the flora and the natural regeneration of woodland . The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust regards deer not as pests, but as a significant and often under-utilised game resource.

We advise landowners to develop stalking and culling strategies for deer in order to make the best use of this resource and to maintain populations at levels low enough to allow woodland to regenerate and to avoid forestry damage. Fallow deer Dama dama Although fallow deer were present some 400,000 years ago in Britain, later glaciations restricted them to the Mediterranean basin whence they have been re-introduced to other parts of Europe. There are no reliable records of them being imported to Britain before the Norman Conquest, after which they were kept widely in parks for both food and ornament. They were also preserved in the wild for hunting, e.g.in Epping forest and the New Forest. Indeed, until 1997, the New Forest Buckhounds were the only surviving pack hunting fallow. The present feral population owes its existence largely to park escapes. Many parks were broken up in the Civil War (1642) and again in the two World Wars. Deer farming became fashionable in the 1980's, some farms keeping fallow in preference to other species. Escapes were inevitable, but are not thought to have made an important impact in comparison to the large number already feral in the countryside.

Fallow exhibit extreme flexibility in most aspects of their social organisation. In high-density populations in large woodlands such as the New Forest, males and females plus young live in separate groups, except during the autumn rut. In lower-density populations in agricultural areas, however, mixed-sex groups regularly occur throughout the winter. In common with other ungulates, group size is flexible and influenced by both habitat and season. Fallow deer also exhibit mating systems ranging from non-territorial devence of harems to the development of clusters of tiny mating territories on leks. The ideal habitat is a mozaic of established broad-leaved woodlands and arable fields. However, fallow make a living in a range of habitats, from commercial conifer plantations to large open agricultural areas with small woodlands. Although primarily grazers, they take a variety of vegetation and, at high densities, may cause considerable damage to forestry and farm crops. Muntjac deer Muntiacus reevesi At least five species of Muntjac are known, with a distribution from Pakistan to Java and north to mainland China. Two species have been brought to Britain; The large Indian muntjac was brought to Woburn park in about 1900.

This was eliminated in the park but survived as escapees, or as the progeny of escapees, until 1925. The smaller Reeves' muntjac, was introduced before 1900 and flourished, spreading into surrounding woodlands. In spite of contemporary doubts, it does not hybridise with the Indian species. Owing to their subtropical origin in Southern China, muntjac are not seasonal breeders. They produce single fawns every seven months, gestation is 210 days and lactation six to eight weeks. Mating follows quickly after parturition. Pelage changes (spring and autumn) and, to some extent, antler growth (most adult bucks are in velvet in early summer) have adapted to the British climate. Muntjac are territorial and the social unit is a family group with young adults being driven off before the arrival of the next fawn. Males make large scrapes and fray on low branches using their tusks, not their antlers. The tusks are the muntjac's primary waepons, showing its primitive ancestry. Both sexes bark like a small dog at intruders, often continuing for many minutes.

Their preferred foods are ivy, bramble, coppice shoots, flowers and seeds of many plants, also fruit, nuts, dead leaves, fungi and market garden produce. They seem to be primarily animals of dense woodland, although analysis of the occurrence of sightings suggest their habitat preferences are very catholic. Muntjac are present throughout most of southern and eastern England and they are spreading into Wales. There have also been scattered records in northern England and a few in Scotland. Little is known so far about predation, parasites and disease, but traffic accidents and loose dogs may kill many every year. Severe winter weather may lead to high mortality. Red deer Cervus elaphus The red deer is Britain’s largest native land mammal. Originally a species of the woodland edge, red deer have adapted to an existence in open 'deer forests' of the Scottish Highlands. More recently they have colonised commercial conifer plantations where they can attain high population densities. There have been laws to protect red deer since Saxon times and because of conservation, primarily for hunting with hounds but latterly for stalking, they have survived in fluctuating numbers through the Middle Ages to modern times.

The main concentrations are now in the Highlands, south-western Scotland and south-western England, with a wide scatter of local herds in many parts of England and Scotland. They are virtually absent from Wales, although further colonisation of commercial forestry there is possible. Some red deer populations, notably those in the Scottish Highlands and the west of England may be considered native, although with some injections of other strains. Others owe their origins to escapes from parks or to deliberate introductions. The Scottish herd is estimated to be in the region of 350,000. Between 50,000 and 70,000 red deer culled every year, and in severe winters this may be supplemented by natural mortality. Poaching may add substantially to this figure. No statistics are available for England and Wales. Roe deer Capreolus capreolus The roe deer is primarily an animal of mixed and small woodland but it is capable of adapting to a wide variety of habitats. It has colonised the northern conifer forests and have penetrated many towns, making use of gardens, parks and other open spaces where there is food and cover. It may also be seen well out into open farmland.

The Roe deer is a native species which has been present in Britain since at least the Mesolithic period. However, probably because of over-hunting, it became extremely scarce in medieval times and by 1700 it was considered extinct in southern and central England and all of Wales. It also disappeared in most regions of Scotland except for the northern Highlands. After 1800 there were re-introductions into England and colonies were established in Dorset, Sussex and East Anglia. At the same time, there was a gradual recolonisation of most of northern England and Scotland. Today, roe deer occur in most of southern England, all of northern England and Scotland, and they are continuing to spread into the midlands and central Wales. The re-introductions were in response to a vogue for hunting which did not last. Since then roe have been undervalued as a sporting quarry and, as numbers built in the first part of the 20th century, shotgun drives and snaring were the accepted legal means of control. Deer Acts from 1959 onwards imposed close seasons and limitations on the type and calibres of weapons permitted for deer.

Roe stalking as a sport was practised by a few enthusiasts from the late 19th century onwards, but has only become more generally recognised as a method of humane control in the last thirty years. Sika deer Cervus nippon Sika originate from the Far East and some 13 different races are recognised, many of them endangered in their native countries. Size varies considerably, from the typical Japanese race with a shoulder height of 65-79 centimetres, to the Dybowski sika of Manchuria and Korea which measures about 110 centimetres. Sika are closely related to red deer and can interbreed with them. In habit they keep more to woodland than red deer. Populations which are subject to distrubance become largely nocturnal. Most sika in Britain are Japanese in origin and were brought first to Ireland about 1860, to Powerscourt, and thence to a variety of places in England and Scotland. Some were released deliberately, eg in Kintyre, the New Forest, Dorset and Bowland. The deer at Bowland are thought to have been Manchurian.

Others escaped from parks, especially during the two World Wars and established feral populations. In recent years the sika has extended its range , especially in Scotland. Another colony in Peebles is now expanding northward and eastward. In England sika are to be found in Lancashire and Yorkshire, southern Dorset and the New Forest. In addition, small local populations exist in the vicinity of a several of the parks from which they originally escaped. Further expansion seems likely, especially in the north. Sika appear to favour the wetter, acid-soil areas and avoid chalk downland. | Shropshire Wildlife Trust Amy Lewis About The small Muntjac Deer was first introduced from China to Woburn in Bedfordshire at the start of the 20th century. It is now a common animal across south-east England and is spreading. The male has short, unbranched antlers and a pair of long canine teeth. Muntjac live in woodland, parkland and even venture into gardens. Muntjac are also known as 'barking deer' because of their dog-like calls, most often heard in the autumn. How to identify A very small, stocky deer, about the same size as a medium-sized dog.

A uniform brown with a pale underside and small, single-pointed antlers. Where to find it Common and increasing in southern England, spreading northwards. Habitats Muntjac – Stag Antlers In brief. . . Where do they come from? The Muntjac or Reeves’ Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) is also known as the Barking Deer because of its dog-like call. Native to South Asia, in the early 20th century it was introduced to Woburn in Bedfordshire, and it later spread into the wild through deliberate releases and escapees. Antlers: Bucks have short antlers that may reach 10 cm in length; they also have ‘tusks’ or downward-pointing canine teeth. What else should I know? The British Deer Society estimates that the Muntjac may soon be the most numerous deer species in England. Recently it has spread into Wales and Scotland, and there are populations in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Background information . . . The Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) inhabits the tropical regions of South Asia including China, Taiwan, Japan, India and Indonesia.

It was first introduced into Woburn in the early 1900s, and escaped Muntjac soon established themselves in the wild. Although the main concentration of Muntjac is in central and southern England, it is spreading rapidly: the British Deer Society has estimated that Muntjac may soon be the commonest deer species in England. Aided by humans, Muntjac have spread to Wales and the Scottish Borders, and there are also reports of it in Northern Ireland and in the Irish Republic. A Muntjac buck can weigh between 10 kg and 18 kg, and measures between 44 cm and 52 cm at the shoulder. Females (does) weigh slightly less, but are of similar height. Muntjac are browsers, eating a variety of foliage including herbs, brambles, ivy, heather, bilberry and even garden plants. They are known to damage trees by stripping the bark. Their lifespan can be up to 16 years. In summer the Muntjac’s coat is russet brown, fading to greyish-brown in winter. It is distinguishable by its large haunches, giving it a hunched appearance, and its large facial glands below the eyes.

Antlers . . . A Muntjac buck’s antlers are short, measuring only about 10 cm in length; they are unbranched, although a brow tine or point can occur in older bucks. The antlers are shed in May or June, and re-grow by October or November. A Muntjac’s antlers are not used in combat during the rut – instead, they use their protruding tusk-like canines.

Question: Which species of deer was introduced to Britain at Woburn in the early 20th century?
Answer: Muntjac